The male skincare shelves at my local pharmacy are becoming increasingly busy with new arrivals. But even among all the clutter, the L’Oreal Men Expert range manages to stand out with its overtly masculine and you-can’t-ignore-me packaging that speaks to modern, active and successful men.
It also helps that the French beauty giant has pumped big bucks into its visibility by using F1 champ Lewis Hamilton as its global ambassador. Whether Mr H actually uses L’Oreal Men Expert is a moot point. I recently used some of the products from the ever-growing range that even includes a tattoo reviver. Unfortunately, that particular product is not available in South Africa.
WINNING FORMULA: Lewis Hamilton for L’Oreal Men Expert.
These are my quick impressions of the following L’Oreal Men Expert products:
L’Oreal Men Expert Hydra Energetic Ice Cool Face Wash
Don’t know about you, but it’s not only my brain that needs a kick-start in the a.m. My face could do with some assistance too. L’Oreal Men Expert Hydra Energetic Ice Cool Face Wash does the trick with its soap-free, pH neutral formula. It contains the very snazzy-sounding Cryo-Tonic and Active Defence System (ADS). These mean it refreshes, cleanses and reinforces the skin, without leaving it drier than a Cape Town drought.
L’Oreal Men Expert Hydra Energetic Ice Cool Face Wash, R89.95 for 150ml.
L’Oreal Men Expert Hydra Energetic Black Charcoal Wash
Activated charcoal is known for its purifying properties. It attracts all the nasty stuff our skins are exposed to through the process of adsorption. Everyone from Clinique to Tom Ford now has a charcoal-based product of some sort. L’Oreal Men Expert Hydra Energetic Black Charcoal Wash is the best mass-market charcoal product I have come across so far. This product takes on shine, blackheads, stickiness, dullness and enlarged pores with voomah. I love how the black gel transforms into a white lather. You only need a tiny amount of this high-performance baby to do the job, so best squeeze the tube g-e-n-t-l-y.
L’Oreal Men Expert Hydra Energetic Black Charcoal Wash, R89.95 for 150ml.
L’Oreal Men Expert Hydra Energetic Daily Moisturising Lotion
With vitamin C, anti-oxidant, the above-mentioned ADS and SP15, L’Oreal Men Expert Hydra Energetic Daily Moisturising Lotion combats a variety of skin issues. These include dryness, dullness and sun exposure. I used it in the morning and evening, and noticed how easily it is absorbed. However, as I need a higher SPF for my, ahem, mature skin, I wouldn’t continue to use this product. I would recommend this one for gents in their 30s, though, as it’s a good all-rounder.
L’Oreal Men Expert Hydra Energetic Daily Moisturising Lotion, R129 for 50ml.
L’Oreal Men Expert Hydra Energetic Recharging Moisturiser
No doubt you’ve heard of creatine as a nutritional supplement. How about in a skincare product? Some studies suggest that when applied topically, it perks up the skin. And I could always do with some of that. The headline ingredient in L’Oreal Men Expert Hydra Energetic Recharging Moisturiser is this organic acid. This product promises to revitalise and moisturise lacklustre skin when used morning and night. It’s no-nonsense stuff that works a charm. Cool packaging too!
L’Oreal Men Expert Hydra Energetic Recharging Moisturiser, R124.95.
Hi Richard, loving the blog. I read about the tattoo reviver and would love to use it but I have a question: are men’s products harder on the skin than women’s?
Hello Jabu, big thanks for the feedback. The theory is that men and women have different skincare needs, so many male skincare products address the particular issues of men, for example shaving. That said, it really depends on the skincare issue and the product. There are many male products that women can use too, and vice versa. In the case of this tattoo reviver from L’Oreal Men Expert, having read the product specs, I see no reason why you can’t use it. It promises to “increase brightness, revive colour contrast and sharpen contours”. So I would be very keen to know if it delivers on those claims. Hope this helps. R
Black Charcoal Wash sounds interesting – I should check it out.
In general, I’m glad that companies started making skincare products for men, especially those with sunscreens. Also, how unfair it was that only women had to spend money on those items! 😉
Absolutely, Undina! Why should women be the only ones to worry about such things. Bring on the SPF. Generally women are far more educated about it and men still have some catching up to do. R